Short Film Review

Muxes

Mexico’s Third Gender.

This beautiful 9 minute documentary depicts the identity of the Muxes, A third gender within Mexico that recognises individuals defined as male at their birth. They live within a limbo between men and women. They are socially recognised and accepted as individuals. The association between Muxes and transgenders is not as simple as Western paradigms. These individuals throughout the short film describe their dreams, hopes and relationships.

The community within Juchitan allows working freedom for the Muxes, as their communal effort trumps propagated social constraints. For instance a Muxe who started to change their aesthetic at 12 explains how their Mother encouraged independent work. A Muxe denotes the sense of matriarchal culture. The presence of Women and realising their hard working nature garners support for Muxe’s.

“My mum gave me a chance, she told me “It doesn’t matter if you’re a Muxe but find a job that can make you an independent one”

Another point that captivated me is the concept of combining both sense of Man and Women, a duality of strength and sensitivity. Of course, these ideals within our genders seem like gender roles. Yet this combination of identity refers to a Zapotec language, a pre-Columbian civilisation. Within its language there is no difference in referring to a man or women. “La-ave — when talking about people, La-ame when talking about animals, and La-ani for inanimate objects”. There is no concept of him or her. I feel our definitions of gender is dangerously Western, language dictates a lot and implies much more. The contentious debate about transgenders and their identity Worldwide, also feels incredibly Western.

“we have our own Muxe identity which is what defines us”

In conclusion , the concept of a Third Gender despite Human history accumulating to this point is baffling by the sense of “norm”. I adore this short Documentary, appreciating the smiles of the Muxes and the fact we can document these living experiences to shape a much more considerate World. My opinion on the Third Gender is pointless, I consider the idea of Human beings more than I do their identity. The fact someone can find a belonging in this frightening World when they suffer through socialisation, is fascinating to me. A totality of man and women, or rather Human, captures all we can feel, do and become. In that sense we are all one, with the differences being in development and genetics.

You can Watch “MUXES” by Ivan Olita here: